The Capacity Crunch, Part Two: Public Utilities, Resource Planning & Deployment, and the IRA
Nota Bene Podcast Episode 133: What’s Driving the Shift Toward Renewable Energy? with Paul Kaufman and Ben Huffman
On-Demand Webinar | Eminent Domain in 2020: A Year in Review
On August 29, 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) issued a highly anticipated order approving the Electric Sector Modernization Plans (“ESMPs”) filed by the three Massachusetts electric distribution...more
On February 15, 2024, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) released Massachusetts’ inaugural Environmental Justice Strategy (“EJ Strategy”), a comprehensive set of initiatives and...more
On June 10, 2023, a jury in Portland, Oregon found PacifiCorp and Pacific Power (collectively, “PacifiCorp”) liable for negligence, trespass, and nuisance based on a series of four wildfires that occurred during Labor Day...more
The Maine Public Utilities Commission is currently considering whether to commence a formal emergency rulemaking process to amend Chapter 324 of its rules governing generator interconnections. The purpose of the rulemaking...more
During the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly of Georgia, the Legislature enacted legislation that impacts public works contracts. Ultimately, these revisions to O.C.G.A. §§ 13-10-80 & 81 appear most favorable to...more
What You Need to Know •The New Jersey BPU has created a narrow opportunity for granting conditional six-month extensions of time to complete certain mature solar projects registered in the Transition Incentive (TI)...more
On or before May 2, 2022, the Maine Public Utilities Commission has requested bids for proposed transmission and generation resources that would boost energy exports from northern Maine. The northern Maine region has long...more
The Georgia House put in a full day on Thursday, taking up twelve propositions across two Rules Calendars before adjourning near 4PM. Representatives unanimously approved a bill strengthening Georgia’s Childhood Lead Exposure...more
After a horrible wildfire season in 2020, this year's wildfire season is off to an even earlier start in Oregon and across the West. The fires have been making national news seemingly every day, with record-breaking "heat...more
On May 24, Governor Janet Mills nominated attorney Patrick Scully, who was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Bernstein Shur, to serve a six-year term on the Maine Public Utilities Commission. For over 36 years,...more
House passes budget, directs federal relief money - The House gave unanimous final approval on Friday to a $7 billion state budget that includes a general framework for spending a large portion of the $1.3 billion...more
Vermont's business community unites in opposition to unemployment insurance bill - Vermont business groups joined together this week in strong opposition to an unemployment insurance bill, S.10, that was approved last...more
On March 8, 2021, Commissioner Shelly Botkin resigned immediately from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), leaving the PUCT with only one sitting commissioner. Somewhat unusually, under Texas’ Public Utility...more
On March 1, 2021, Potomac Economics, the Independent Market Monitor (IMM) for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), filed a report with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) that certain payments were...more
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, in his 2021 budget address on February 3, 2021, again pressed the Pennsylvania Legislature to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana. His recommendation stems from a report by Lieutenant...more
In a recent case in the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), a party filed a petition for issuance of an interim emergency order pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 3.6. ...more
When the Massachusetts DPU opened docket DPU 20-75, I described it as a proposal to fundamentally change system planning and cost allocation in Massachusetts. The interconnection process in Massachusetts has been a perpetual...more
On October 22, the Massachusetts DPU issued an Order opening a new docket (DPU 20-75) that seeks comments on a proposal to shake up the way the electric distribution system is planned and paid for in Massachusetts. As I see...more
In March, 2020, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) unanimously issued an emergency order that generally prohibited Pennsylvania electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications, and steam utilities...more
In developments of interest to New Jersey electric utilities, solar developers, subscriber organizations, and eligible consumers, on October 2, 2020, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) moved forward with New...more
On October 2, 2020, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (Board) announced the opening of the second year of the Community Solar Program (PY2) as well as various changes from Program Year 1 (PY1) of the program. The...more
On July 21, 2020, a unanimous Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued its decision in Crown Castle NG East LLC and Pennsylvania-CLE LLC v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 2 MAP 2019 (July 21, 2020). Reversing the...more
On July 2, 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities launched an “Investigation into the Modernization of the Electric Grid – Phase Two.” In this investigation, the DPU will look again at deploying advanced...more
LOCKOUTS Can I be locked out of my home during the COVID-19 emergency? No. On March 19, 2020, New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy issued Executive Order 106, which immediately suspends evictions throughout the state. This...more
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently took action in two proceedings addressing issues related to low-income customer assistance and affordability. The CPUC noted that the importance of these proceedings...more